You're Offensive! No, wait, with that average how could you be?

A few weeks ago I blogged about the Mariners and their inability very early in this season to pitch well, as they got pounded by the Astros.

“Not to worry, I said, it's early and the hitters are ahead of the pitchers” or words to that effect.

As always I was incorrect.

Taken today from the pages of the Major League Baseball web page, Mariner pitching is ahead of Mariner hitting according to the latest statistics. The team average is ranked 29th of 30 while the pitching staff ERA comes in at number 26 out of 30 so clearly we can see the pitching is far better than the hitting. (Insert snark face here).

We'd like to see those statistics to be more along the lines of 4th or 5th in pitching and maybe 10th in hitting. And if you listened with half an ear during the off season you might have been led to believe that's what team management was promising for this season.

So far, that is not happening. In fact, we are not even close. Thus far the pitching has allowed 96 runs, which is 3rd most in the Majors to this point and scored 61, fewer than all but 3 other teams.

In reviewing the last few games the M's have faced some good pitching. But in losing all three to the Rangers this weekend and scoring exactly 3 runs over the course of 3 games, their pitching could be number 1 in the Major Leagues and they'd still be in trouble.

Here's why; according to the major league rule book, (I'll cut and paste it for you),

'1.02- The objective of each team is to win by scoring more runs than the opponent.

I have a feeling it's going to difficult for the Mariners to fulfill the objective of the game this season. Golf anyone?